One of the leading American composers of his generation, Jake Heggie arrives on Avie with ‘Passing By’, a gorgeous collection of recent songs and duets performed by a stunning array of international singers and instrumentalists. Fresh from the extraordinary success of The Dallas Opera premiere of his opera Moby Dick – ‘a wonderful and rare reminder that new opera truly can excite people if it’s done right’, according to The Washington Post – Heggie, the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, describes this collection as ‘songs that tell stories about now and then. Reflections of family, friends and lovers passing by. A missed or mistaken connection, a moment when everything might have been different. People who entered our lives and would be there forever, then suddenly were not there at all’.

Heggie is indelibly associated with his acclaimed operas, including Dead Man Walking (which made the Top 10 of Billboard’s Classical Chart), Three Decembers and The End of the Affair, and his heart and soul lie in storytelling through song. With lyrics and poetry by the likes of A.E. Housman, Terrence McNally, and Rilke, the songs of ‘Passing By’ reflect the great American songbook tradition, replete with achingly beautiful melodies and striking observations of life’s journeys.

As ‘Passing By’ illustrates, Heggie’s music is championed by the most illustrious international singers, with many of whom he has also collaborated as a pianist. He has received commissions from San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Carnegie Hall, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has had his work performed as far afield as Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and South Africa.

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Reviews

Everyone involved in this production sounds like a million dollars. Who wouldn’t want to hear Von Stade sing duets with Graham and DiDonato? Zheng Cao’s mezzo was a revelation to me. If I don’t single out others, it doesn’t mean they aren’t superb. The recorded sound is sumptuous.
Robert Carl

Fanfare - January/February 2011

****
The superb individual performance, combined with Heggie’s own explanatory liner notes, makes this an excellent introduction to his music.
Owen Mortimer

Opera Now - January-February 2011

Critics Choice
Edward Seckeron

Gramophone - December 2010

*****
This is a stunning CD, easily one of the highlight vocal discs for 2010, and a pleasure to give my highest recommendation.
Stephen Ritter

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About Chandos

Chandos Records is one of the world's premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. The company has pioneered the idea of the 'series' and proudly includes series of such composers as Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Parry, Walton, Grainger, Berkeley and Bridge. Renowned for its superb sound quality, Chandos has won many prestigious awards for its natural sound.